Tagua is a dense material that very much resembles animal ivory but is in fact the nut of a tree called the Palm Ivory.

The actual size of the eagle can be seen in the small image.

The eagle was burnt using a very sharp skew and was then coloured using acrylic paint. The acrylic paint is vibrant in colour and able to be applied over burning.

NEGATIVE CELTIC TAGUA

Another sample of Celtic work, but this time in miniature, on a tagua slice.

A very sharp skew was used for the lines and a writing nib was used to stipple the background.

Don't forget, pyrography is as much about texture as it is about looks.

Actual size is 1.25 inches.

MONOCHROME TAGUA

Another sample of working in miniature, this time a wildlife picture done without the use of any colour.

A skew and spoon shader were used.

The actual size is approx 1.25 inches.

MONOCHROME CUT WORK ON IVORY PIANO KEY PIECE

I was curious if ivory and bone could be burnt. As you can see by this example, it can, but there are several structural problems involved, including heat fracturing of the ivory and some fading. (It's interesting to note that tagua pyrography does NOT fade.)

This piece was produced by using a super sharp skew and performing small micro cuts.

The actual size is seen below.

MONOCHROME POINTILLISM ON IVORY PIANO KEY

Similar to above but most of this piece was done using the fine tip of a skew, etching thousands of very fine burnt dots. (It's slightly akin to scrimshaw in a way.)

The actual size is below.

GOUACHE ON TAGUA BURNING

Miniature pyrography can provide wonderful keep sakes. This miniature is of a vine covered window at a B&B I stayed at in Quebec City.

The basic picture was first burned into the tagua slice then the colour was filled in with gouache paint. A slight amount of 'over burning' was then done to create the shadows under the leaves, the planter box and the curtain folds.

Actual size is 1.5 inches.

MONOCHROME ON TAGUA WITH WHITE PAINT HIGHLIGHTS

I sometimes use a touch of gouache or acrylic paint to highlight a piece, especially if the subject is white, such as this arctic wolf.

It is painted on top of the burning with a fine brush right at the end.

It marries well with the pyrography and gives a much needed kick and contrast to these subjects.